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The Fossil Tree

Originally discovered in a sandstone quarry in nearby Clayton in 1889, this fine example of a prehistoric fossil tree stump and roots (technically known as "stigmaria") was moved to Lister Park where it is on permanent display as an outdoor exhibit, currently residing near the entrance to the botanical gardens at the Frizinghall / Heaton end of the park.

The stigmaria is believed to be the stump and roots of a typical coal forest lycopsid tree such as sigillaria or lepidodendron, and having originally grown in the Carboniferous period is believed to be around 330 million years old !

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